Separation anxiety

At six or seven months of age, babies are usually friendly and smile easily, however they usually have a preference for their parent or main caregiver. By seven to eight months, they start to want to have you in sight at all times and may be upset or cry when they cannot see you.

If they can crawl they will probably follow you – wherever you go.
You are the center of their world, and when you leave they feel 'separation anxiety'. They cannot know where you are and do not understand that you will come back.

When long separations happen – for example through being in hospital, or a parent leaving or being ill - the child can show severe anxiety. Generally the child will cry or protest first, hoping that he can change things and bring his carer back.

If this does not happen, the child may lose interest in people and in playing, or may just play the same thing over and over again. If the main caregiver (eg. parent) leaves or is away for a long time, it is important that other special adults spend as much time as possible caring for the child. It also helps if the usual routine can be followed.